Tropical Medicine Retreat

Rewilding the Body, Remembering the Earth


A 5 Day Retreat in San Mateo, Costa Rica

February 3 - 8, 2026

Step into the lush green heart of Costa Rica for a five day journey where tropical plants become your teachers and the forest your classroom. Guided by master herbalist Shantree Kacera and Costa Rican botanist Gustavo Rojas, this retreat invites you to rewild your body and rekindle your relationship with the living Earth.

Each day you will walk among trees, roots, flowers, and fruits, discovering how to recognize, harvest, and prepare them as allies for nourishment, vitality, and balance. Along jungle paths and in abundant gardens, you will be immersed in the stories, rhythms, and presence of the plants, remembering the kinship that connects all life.

Nourished by organic tropical meals and supported in an intimate setting, you will be welcomed into practices that ground your body, awaken your senses, and bring you into rhythm with the natural world. Whether you are experienced in plant studies or simply curious to reconnect, the Tropical Medicine Retreat offers a rare chance to rewild with the Earth and return home renewed, rooted, and alive.

You Will Experience

  • Tree Medicine
    Discover the guardians of the forest and the deep medicine they offer for body and soul.

  • Bioregional Plant Medicine
    Get to know twelve essential tropical plants for daily nourishment, vitality, and balance.

  • Plant Botany
    Learn the language of plants through their forms, patterns, and vibrational essence.

  • Permaculture Principles
    Explore the intersection of ecological design, food forests, and medicine gardens.

  • Energetic Language of Plants
    Tap into plant consciousness and deepen your intuitive communication.

  • Sacred Walks
    Slow down and receive the teachings of plants found along the roadside and in overlooked spaces.

A hand holding white elderflowers above a jar of water on a rustic wooden table, surrounded by lemon halves, green leaves, and other elderflowers, with a background of more elderflowers and lemons.

What’s Included

5-Day Retreat
Pricing includes meals and full retreat programming.

Early Bird (by December 1: $995 US
Regular (after December 1: $1295 US

Retreat Package:

  • 3 nourishing organic tropical meals daily

  • All workshops, ethical foraging jungle walks and hands-on tree medicine making

  • Herbal tonics, elixirs, and curated welcome gifts

  • A one-hour post-retreat one-on-one integration session

Optional Add-Ons:

  • Therapeutic massage

  • Additional private sessions during your stay

Accommodations
Accommodation is booked separately, and retreat participants are invited to arrange their stay directly with our retreat partner, Buen Camino Eco Cabinas or Casitas. A five-night stay is approximately $700 US for two people, and shuttle service to and from Buen Camino is available.

A group of people walking along a narrow jungle trail surrounded by dense green foliage.

Retreat Information

  • 6:30 – 7:30 AM
    Gentle morning meditation and mindfulness practice to start the day connected.

    7:30 – 8:30 AM
    Nourishing breakfast with local fruits, herbs, and plant-based tonics.

    9:00 – 12:00 PM
    Guided forest walks and medicine teachings with Shantree and Gustavo. Learn to identify, harvest, and understand tropical plants through hands-on experience.

    12:30 – 2:00 PM
    Lunch and restful downtime, a chance to integrate and reflect.

    2:00 – 4:30 PM
    Plant preparation workshops: making infusions, and exploring plant energetics and tropical forest gardens.

    5:00 – 6:00 PM
    Movement, journaling, or creative time to deepen your connection with the plants and your own process.

    6:30 – 7:30 PM
    Dinner shared in community with a focus on sacred nourishment.

    8:00 – 9:00 PM
    Evening gatherings, including storytelling, sacred plant ceremonies, or quiet reflection.

  • Ecovilla: Your Retreat Location

    Ecovilla Costa Rica is a remarkable embodiment of uniqueness and beauty, seamlessly blending regenerative living with the breathtaking natural environment. Nestled amidst lush landscapes, next to the majestic Machuca River, the vibrant community thrives on principles of permaculture and regenerative agriculture, creating a living ecosystem that not only produces organic food but also enriches the local biodiversity.

    The beauty of Ecovilla lies in its strong sense of community, where collaboration and shared values foster deep connections among residents. This nurturing environment encourages holistic wellness and nature-connection, enhancing individual and collective well-being.

    Overall, Ecovilla is a community that embodies the harmony between human life and nature, inspiring those who seek a conscious and fulfilling lifestyle in a beautiful, interconnected world.

    Suggested Accommodations
    Buen Camino Eco Cabinas or Casitas

  • To express interest or receive updates, please contact us at: Shantree@thelivingcentre.com

    For more information & to register, contact 519-652-9109 or 519-652-023
    Email Shantree@thelivingcentre.com

    We're here to guide you every step of the way!

  • 1. Deposit Requirements:

    • A deposit of $500.00 US is required upon registration to secure your spot.

    • The deposit is non-refundable but can be applied to future retreats if cancellation occurs.

    2. Cancellation Policy:

    • 45 days or more before the retreat: Full refund of any payments made (minus a cancellation fee of $200 US).

    • 30 to 45 days before the retreat: 50% refund of the total payment.

    • Less than 30 days before the retreat: No refunds will be issued.

    3. Transfer Policy:

    • Participants may transfer their registration to another person up to 30 days before the retreat. Notification must be given in writing.

    4. Special Circumstances:

    • A partial refund may be considered on a case-by-case basis in case of emergency or illness.

    5. Retreat Cancellation:

    • If the organizer cancels the retreat, all payments will be fully refunded.

    6. Changes to the Policy:

    • The organizer reserves the right to amend this policy. Any changes will be communicated to participants.

Group of hikers walking along a lush, green jungle trail surrounded by tropical plants and trees.
Table of various colorful appetizers including a platter of stuffed cucumber boats, a bowl of grape and cheese salad with cherry tomatoes, and a dish of purple dip with bread slices.
Salad with various greens, cherry tomato, nuts, and sprouts on a white plate with a fork on the side, placed on a red placemat with an orange border.
A thatched-roof open pavilion with people practicing yoga outdoors among trees and greenery.
Close-up of tree roots growing over a rocky surface, with a large tree and dense green foliage in the background.
Person holding a partially opened yellow citrus fruit with orange pulp and seeds, surrounded by green leafy foliage.
Close-up of a tree trunk covered with vines and brown, wilted leaves in a lush forest.
A close-up of a passionflower with pink petals and intricate purple and white filaments, surrounded by green leaves in sunlight.
Nest with two eggs on a branch surrounded by green leaves.
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Your Guides

  • shantree kacera

    Shantree Kacera, RH, DN, Ph.D.

    Ayurvedic practitioner, teacher, and author of the forthcoming Elemental Wisdom, Shantree brings 50+ years of experience guiding individuals into vital, regenerative living using plant intelligence, elemental energetics, deep ecology and eco-centric regenerative processes.

    LEARN MORE
  • Gustavo Rojas

    Gustavo Rojas

    A Costa Rican botanist and regenerative farmer grew up in close connection with the land. His love for the tropical jungle is not just professional, it’s personal. With a warm, grounded presence, he shares stories, traditions, and practical wisdom passed down through generations.

    LEARN MORE

Stories of Transformation

  • "I’ve studied herbs before, but this retreat brought it alive in a whole new way. Walking through the jungle, hearing the stories of each plant, and then preparing meals with Shantree’s guidance, it felt like the plants themselves were my teachers. I left with knowledge, yes, but also a deep sense of kinship with the Earth."
    ~Andreas K.

  • "I loved how hands-on everything was. We weren’t just talking about plants; we were harvesting, tasting, preparing, and learning their energetics. I feel like I gained real skills I can use every day. Plus, the food was some of the best I’ve ever had."
    ~Rebecca L.

  • "Tasting turmeric straight from the earth, I finally understood its fire, not just as anti-inflammatory, but as a living energy that awakens clarity and courage in the body."
    ~Leila B.

  • "What struck me most was learning to feel plants as more than remedies. Drinking a tea we had gathered, I could sense its coolness moving through me, soothing the heat and agitation I had carried for months. It was medicine, yes, but also a relationship."
    ~Darren K.

  • "On the third day, we worked with cacao. I’ve always thought of chocolate as a treat, but what I experienced was an entirely different reality. Fresh from the pod, cacao was alive with heart-opening energy. As Shantree guided us through its warming and expansive qualities, I felt my chest literally soften, my breath deepen. This wasn’t abstract,it was embodied wisdom. I now understand plants not only by what they do for us, but by how they speak through our bodies."
    ~Mariana V.

Why Here? Why Now?

Because the medicine is alive, and it’s calling you home.
Because the lush living forest holds remedies your body remembers.
Because in a time of disconnection, it is the plants who offer the way back.
Because the future depends on how we remember to live in relationship, with the  Earth, with the plants, and with our own inner nature.

This retreat is for those who feel the pull to walk with the plants, not just study them. It’s for herbalists, plant people, earth stewards, and anyone ready to listen with more than their minds, to feel with their skin, breathe with their belly, and learn through direct experience.

The rainforest is a living pharmacy, a sanctuary of spirit and science, offering its abundance to those who approach with humility and respect.

We invite you to come with open hands and open heart.
To touch the roots.
To sip the decoctions.
To sit in ceremony with leaf, flower, fruit, and bark.
To receive the teachings only the plants can offer, in their own language, in their own time.

✺ Frequently Asked Questions ✺

  • This retreat is for anyone longing to reconnect with nature and themselves through the living world of tropical plants. Whether you are an experienced herbalist or simply curious about plant medicine, you will be welcomed into an immersive and supportive experience.

  • Your retreat fee includes all programming, workshops, jungle walks, herbal experiences, tonics, elixirs, three nourishing organic meals daily, and a one-hour post-retreat integration session. Accommodations are booked separately.

  • Accommodation is arranged directly with Buen Camino Eco Cabinas or Casitas, our retreat partner and location. Participants can book their stay through Buen Camino, with a five-night stay starting at approximately USD 700 for two people. Shuttle service is available. Click here to book your stay.

  • No prior experience is needed. All practices are guided step by step, allowing both beginners and those with herbal knowledge to benefit deeply from the retreat.

  • Rewilding the body is about remembering your natural rhythm and vitality by reconnecting with the living Earth. Through practices with tropical plants, movement, breath, and time in nature, you’ll release stress and conditioning, and return to a more grounded, alive way of being.

  • This is an intimate retreat limited to a small group of participants. The atmosphere is welcoming, supportive, and rooted in respect for nature and one another. You’ll be guided step by step, with plenty of space for personal reflection as well as shared connection.

  • If you feel a longing to slow down, reconnect with nature, and rediscover your own vitality, this retreat may be exactly what you are looking for. You don’t need prior experience with plant medicine…only an open heart and a curiosity to learn. We invite you to reach out to us directly, and we are happy to book a call with you to explore whether this retreat is the right fit for you.

  • The retreat offers both direct experiences with plants and practical tools you can bring home. From plant-based preparations to breath awareness and daily rhythm practices, you’ll leave with ways to continue listening to nature and weaving her intelligence into your everyday life.

Still Have Questions?

If your hearts feel a gentle pull yet you’re unsure how to answer it, we invite you to connect with us. Share your questions, curiosities, or hesitations. We will listen with care and help you discern whether this journey of love and renewal is the right path for you and your partner.